New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-01
THE DOFNTOWN RELIEF BUREAU.
A CARD THAT FRlGHTENs BEGGARs AWAY

IN" SVfEk ST Try OF AN ENGLIsHMAy WHOM THE
BUREAU ASSISTED.
IN more than a thousand Offices of business men
IN New-fork City there hangs from the wall tho
following card:
DOWNTOWN RELIEF BUREAU.
=, NO. 90 TRINITY PLACE
referred sp nsrT tn for ps,'Tc0 at ,s c,s win
iy race where II found worthy they will relieved
rms thorouahfare is the many named street which
runs parallel to and next Broadway on the west
sIde and No so Is the sandstone structure of carly
Enghsh architecture which faces the west end Of
trinity Buildings 1t is extremely possible that the
subscribers TO tho association Joined It simply TO
avoid the loss OF time incurred by listening daily TO
tales or voc. meant to extract from their pockets
quarters or perhaps half dollars but the system
worked moro wisely than its inventors had planned
when the tranps that still maintain quasi respect
able appearance discovered trat no pleading, how
ever eloquent obtained anything save a card In the
offices where the notices OF the bureau was suspended
and where experience had demonstrated ON the
bureau Itself nothing could be extracted save ticket
TO Home Lodging House, where bed and board was
furnished during tho examination of tho references
moro or less bogus, which might have been rendered
they withdrew from the contest and LETT the business
men In peace. Nor this all. II they tackled
chaiftableloohngb passersby upon the sidewalk the
special officers Of the Charity Organization Society
pounced upon them and had them sent up to Black
wells Island for six months. So respectable mend
cancy as profession has suffered eclipse since the
establishment OF the bureau
TRIBUNE reporter called upon Superintendent
Gilbert @. Hubbard and found him seated at q desk In
large room, which had somewhat of ecclesiastical
air, with Its immense table Of oak in the and
Its pointed windows The reporter asked him where
were the crowds OF applicants for relief Mr. ibber
said They don't come In the summer time, but
we have plenty of them In the winter and spring
You must not think, however, that the temporary
relief extended ty these tickets represents all
work, the best part OF It, You that
bench the other side of the railing which separates
my desk from the rest Of the There every
day are seated applicants for relief who not ask
Ing for a meal, who do not may Heaven strike
them down dead II they have slept I'm bed for six
weeks. and who of different class entirely from
the people who bring us cards nom the business
houses that subscribe to the association These APP
pcants ask from the assistance they would en-
treat nom a old friend a relative the
benevolent gentleman in a Bowery drama"
"And do You accede to their requestsir asked tho
reporter with great surprise.
q" Always, II they come with anything like creden-
tlals and sometimes even when they come without
those. A young Baltimorean here last week
without a recommendation from any Of sub
scribers from any Of the clergmen Of Trinity
Parish He wanted money TO telegraph for assist
to San Francisco. One Of our officers went with
him and paid the telegram. An came
within twenty four hours sending money, and he paid
back and evidently sincerely grateful.
Another case was stll more curious. A came to
In great state Of agitation saying that he was an
Engishman OF education and OF good position. Ills
father died leaving considerable estate; but before
u could be settled up II absolutely necessary to
obtain a power OF attorney fo'n a who had been
for ycJs a resident is Sew-Nosi. CO., TO get him
10 return 20 England. Tho man who came 70 the
bureau for assistance and sivoe volunteered to visit
America AMI hunt him up. by application to the
police he found him pcidllng flowers on the curb
stone I'm Grand-st fIthy drunken and In rags The
prodigni brother refused come home, but readily
signed the power Of attorney AMI his brother clothed
him. put mOrey in his pock-t, made him look like n
gentleman and introduced him t.. his wife, who had
accompanied lin from England. Tns prodgal took
tho first opportunity Of rubbing him OF every cent he
had here and OF departing 10 some unknown place
~The unfortunate man pawncd his watch and some
OF his wifes jewei.y and most of their clothes to
obtain money to live upon while he employed agents
10 search for the fugitive. The administrators al
homo would not mako any advances. He found him
self I'm painful embarrassment Being member OF
the Church Of England he naturally thought Of solicit
Ing relief from the rector; and the only ono who
seemed to him to TO that title the rector
Of Trinity. To him he appealed, and he was sent
mere We ansiSed MN 10 20 hohc W bhBiaiu %
fast he could and gave him the money for an
intermediate passage for himself and wife, Tho
latter wrote they landed her husband was
put into prison. but she did tot explain why this
was done. Ten days sterward we received letter
from the himself incloslng the amount Of tho
loan thanking with slpcerei grateful expressions
and explaining that everything right with him.
/ tell you, however, That, as rule, our loans
are not repaid"
At this moment lady entered tho room. and
smiling ofusIvcly, greeted Mr.. Hibber by name aud
said that she had been sent by Dir. Bowman lone OF
the ministers Trinity Parishl The rest OF the con
versailon nearly maud bs but the reporter heard
enough to mpreheRd that she asking tOr the
loan of 800 for which she offered to put up her
husbands pension papers collateral. Send your
husband here" was the ultimatum OF the Supern-
tendent and she departed Her language was good,
her manner bright and ladyllke, but her dress was
pretentlous and yet coarse In material and she wore
ipon each wrist, over tho sleeve of her dress, an
Imitation gold bracelet "will you let her have tho
money r. tho reporter asked - ma. 80,
Cert Lny," wered Mr.. HIbberd, ~ her state
ments corrOborated. Thero Is something 10 Do
explained which should prefer to hear rom , hSr
husband Tho pair have given Dill OF saio upon
their furniture and tho holder threatens 10 make
seizure No doubt there Is some vile usury behind
lhls What Is greatly needed Is some chafi'ape
that would loan money TO the poor upon
pledges at reasonable interest, and save Others from
Inc fangs of the pawnbrokers and the petty money
lenders"